A campus club strives for a balanced view of the fight for the Holy Land
Sometimes it seems that University at Buffalo students can’t escape news of the advances and retreats in the quest for peace in the Middle East. All over campus, television monitors that are tuned into CNN blurt out reports of bombings, settlements, and cautiously hopeful ceasefire periods. Those who don’t pay attention can always pick up a free copy of the New York Times or USA Today, almost sure to see headlines from the sacred lands of the three major western religions.
As president of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) chapter at UB, junior Eric Bokozba has one goal: to make sure that students receive news from Israel that is fair, balanced, and accurate.
He says that the media has anti-Israeli sentiments, and gives incorrect facts about the events that take place over there. “In the news, a lot of media outlets provide a skewed picture,” Eric says. “The phraseology is not always fair and balanced. A lot of news outlets use the word ‘militant,’ as opposed to ‘suicide bomber,’ or ‘terrorist.’ We just want to set the record straight, and make sure both sides of the story are being told.”
Two years ago, Bokozba was a freshman and it was the middle of a particularly violent period of fighting between Israelis and Palestinians. Bokobza and his friend, a native Israeli, felt as if there was no voice on campus for Israel. With help from the Zionist Organization of America, a chapter of the Campus Activism Network was started at UB.
ZOA has held its status as a temporary SA club since it was started. Soon, they will appear in front of the SA Senate for a hearing to be approved for permanent club status. “Once we become permanent, we will get some funding from SA which will help out a lot,” Bokobza says.
While money is an issue for every club, ZOA currently gets funds from the national organization, and they try to work with other Jewish and pro-Israel groups in the area to plan events. However, while the Zionist movement is rooted in Jewish nationalism, Bokobza says that his club is more of a “culturally affiliated” group, and its mailing list of 80 members hosts multiple races and religions.
“Everyone has their own beliefs on the situation, and we want everyone to feel how they want to feel,” he says. “A Zionist is a person who wants the state of Israel to exist in peace. Some people put it together with anti-Arab and anti-Muslim biases, but that is not true at all.”
Bokobza says that his parent organization is more extreme than his chapter. “They are not just going to give up anything,” he says. UB’s ZOA claims a more moderate stance.
“Our goal is to have a peaceful state of Israel,” Bokobza says. “If that means having a Palestinian state next to it, that’s fine.”
It is through education that ZOA attains their goal. Bokobza says that many students are simply apathetic to the Israel/Palestine conflict.
Handing out pamphlets in the crowded Student Union always works, and the group has also hosted speakers. Last semester, one of these speakers was a Bedouin, an Arab Muslim that served in the Israeli Defense force.
“He showed that Israel is a democratic country, and it is a home for all people,” Bokobza says.
The club has hosted an Israeli army night, where the hand-to-hand combat method known as Kravmaga was taught. But “it’s not just work and education,” Bokobza says. The club has also hosted ordinary social events, such as a bar party at The Steer.
Bokobza, who is Jewish, was born and raised in Buffalo. His mother is American, and his father is Israeli; most of his family members live in Israel, and Eric has visited them numerous times.
“I have seen the entire country, and have spoken to a lot of different people,” he says. “That’s why I feel so strongly about the situation.”
Bokobza says that his club is very happy about the recent developments between Israelis and Palestinians. ZOA likes the fact that Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian president, has been willing to work with the Israeli government for peace.
While Israelis are agreeing to withdraw from Palestinian territory, and a cease-fire has been reached, Bokobza is quick to point out where his job as educator comes in. Israel is currently building a barrier on its border with the West Bank.
“When the security fence was being built, people thought it was a huge thing across the whole border. That’s not true at all,” he says. “I just make sure people are up to date on the facts.”
Up next for the club is a belly dancing class, followed by a henna tattoo artist. “It has a middle eastern flavor to it,” Bokobza says. Neither of the two planned events are particularly Jewish.
“I think Israel is a Jewish state, but even if it is a Jewish state, it is still a democratic country that is home to all different people,” Bokobza says. “No matter who you are, you are always welcome in Israel.”
For more information, e-mail Eric at sunybuffalo@zoa.org.
